Networking has always been feast or famine skill for me. I am nearly fearless when it comes to things like running meetings, speaking in front of large group, and organizing work events, but put me in a room filled with people without a purpose other than to network, and I have absolutely no idea what to do. Networking for the sake of networking is just challenging for me. However, it’s vital for career purposes, and I’ve found there are far more effective ways for me to meet new people, and get the things I need.
By using the methods below, I’ve been able to build a large spiderweb network of contacts within my organization that has helped me get a promotion as well as take internal mobility into a new role. Without these contacts, I wouldn’t be nearly as successful as I am.
1) Help others
Networking is fundamentally about people helping each other. When searching for help, it can be easy to fall into the “what’s in it for me” mindset, but I’ve always been most successful when I help others first. Most people have something in the back of their minds that when someone is helpful, it’s polite to return the favor. Use it to your advantage and be a helpful person. This may not even require a lot of work. As your network expands, some of the best help I’ve provided has simply been connecting two people. Simply knowing the right people who can help someone with a specific problem provides great value.
2) Join an interest group
If you work at a large organization, they likely have groups of people with similar interests you can join to learn more about. By the very nature of the group, you already know you have something in common with these people, so it will be easier to have a conversation with strangers. If you are at a company that doesn’t have interest groups established, look for external groups. Meetup is a great application where you can find people with similar interest. If you have trouble with public speaking, look to Toastmasters. I have found networking easiest when there is a common goal everyone is working toward.
3) Volunteer for Special Projects outside of your work group
Volunteering for special is another great way to expand your network. Early in my career, I would volunteer for small projects that needed to be accomplished so that I could learn new things, but the extra benefit was getting to work with new people. After doing a good job on their project, I would start to build a report with those new contacts, and eventually have a strong additional member of my network. It’s a great way to look like a team player, add additional bullet points to you year end review, and build a good network.
4) Give presentation on a topic where you have an expertise
I like to think of giving presentations like networking at scale. You get the attention of lots of people at one time, and if it goes well, you come off looking like a polished and professional individual. This is my personal favorite way to build a network, but that’s probably because I love talking to people about subjects I know lots about. It does take practice to learn how to be an effective public speaker, and there are lots of different ways to learn. Toastmasters is a good organization, as well as many online courses. When in doubt, rehearse a lot so it feels more natural. Giving a presentation my first year at a my current job had a direct impact on my current role. After giving the presentation, a director at my organization asked if I could lead other training sessions and got me involved in some of the local events in my office. Three years later, and I end up taking an internal mobility opportunity to work under this director.
5) Get active online
We live in a digital world with more and more of our lives occurring through the internet. It provides an incredible opportunity to connect and learn from others. People use LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, message boards, blogs and so many other resources to create a personal brand online. Get involved in the conversation. You can connect with people you might not have access to in other areas. I’ve known people early in their careers that have reached out to C-Suite executives at large corporations through LinkedIn to make valuable connections; some of those have even led to phone conversations and interviews. All it takes is a effort.
Get started
Networking isn’t a passive investment. It takes work to get out there and meet people. But, there’s are great ways to network that don’t require going to “networking events” with a stack of business cards. Find some methods that work for you, and start building your own valuable network.
More: Seven tips to running a meeting that provides real value
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